Completing treatment can be both stressful and exciting. You will be relieved to finish treatment, yet it is hard not to worry about cancer coming back. (When cancer returns, it is called recurrence.) This is a very common concern among those who have had cancer.

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Seeing a New Doctor At some point after your cancer diagnosis and treatment, you may find yourself in the office of a new doctor. Your original doctor may have moved or retired, or you may have moved or changed doctors for some reason. It is important that you be able to give your new doctor the exact details of your diagnosis and treatment. Make sure you have the following information handy:

A copy of your pathology report from any biopsy or surgery;

• If you had surgery, a copy of your operative report;
• If you were hospitalized, a copy of the discharge summary that every doctor must prepare when patients are sent home from the hospital; and
• Finally, since some drugs can have long-term side effects, a list of your drugs, drug doses, and when you took them.

Lifestyle Changes to Consider During and After Treatment Having cancer and dealing with treatment can be time-consuming and emotionally draining, but it can also be a time to look at your life in new ways. Maybe you are thinking about how to improve your health over the long term. Some people even begin this process during cancer treatment.

Make Healthier Choices Think about your life before you learned you had cancer. Were there things you did that might have made you less healthy? Maybe you drank too much alcohol, or ate more than you needed, or smoked, or didn't exercise very often. Emotionally, maybe you kept your feelings bottled up, or maybe you let stressful situations go on too long.

Now is not the time to feel guilty or to blame yourself. However, you can start making changes today that can have positive effects for the rest of your life. Not only will you feel better but you will also be healthier. What better time than now to take advantage of the motivation you have as a result of going through a life changing experience like having cancer?

You can start by working on those things that you feel most concerned about. Get help with those that are harder for you.

Excerpted with permission from Quick Facts Prostate Cancer: What You Need to Know - Now © 2007 by the American Cancer Society, Inc., www.cancer.org/bookstore

It may take a while before your confidence in your own recovery begins to feel real and your fears are somewhat relieved. Even with no re- currences, people who have had cancer learn to live with uncertainty.

Follow-Up Care After treatment for prostate cancer, your doctor will want to watch you carefully, checking to see if your cancer recurs or spreads further. Your doctor should also outline a follow-up plan. This plan usually includes regular doctor visits, PSA blood tests, and digital rectal exams. Bone scans or other imaging tests may also be done, depending on your med- ical situation. This is the time for you to ask your healthcare team any questions you need answered and to discuss any concerns you might have.

Almost any cancer treatment can have side effects. Some may last for a few weeks to several months, but others can be permanent. Don't hesitate to tell your cancer care team about any symptoms or side effects that bother you so they can help you manage them.

It is also important to keep medical insurance. Even though no one wants to think of their cancer coming back, it is always a possibility. If it happens, the last thing you want is to have to worry about paying for treatment. Many people have been bankrupted by cancer recurrence.

Prostate cancer can recur many years after initial treatment, which is why it is important to keep regular doctor visits and report any new symptoms (such as bone pain or problems with urination). Should your prostate cancer come back, your treatment options will depend on where it is thought to be located and what types of treatment you've already had.

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